Discover Ziegenrück on the Saale

Ziegenrück is a state-recognized health resort on the Saale between the Bleiloch and Hohenwarte reservoirs. If you are looking for a hotel in Ziegenrück, its combination of river landscapes, geology, forest experiences and hydropower offers several ways to plan your trip. The Ziegenrück Fold and the Forest Experience Island focus on different themes from the Hydropower Museum; two routes also pass through the town.

Landscape and nature in Ziegenrück

The Ziegenrück Fold lies just outside the western edge of town, above a bend in the Saale and within the Thuringian Slate Mountains Geopark. Its asymmetrical structure and tilt toward the southeast are characteristic of folds in the Thuringian Slate Mountains. This specific geological formation is notable for the way its location and structure go together. Ziegenrück combines this geological feature with its location on the Saale between two reservoirs.

The Forest Experience Island is located in the center of Ziegenrück. Its 2.5-kilometer experience trail features learning and play activities about the forest ecosystem. It introduces regional features and native flora and fauna, including various tree species and the protected stag beetle. The trail thus draws attention both to the forest as an ecosystem and to individual species and regional features. Its length gives you a concrete point of reference if you would like to include this nature experience in your travel plans.

Hydropower and local history

Hydropower is one of Ziegenrück’s technical and historical themes. Around 1900, the Fernmühle mill was converted into the first run-of-river power plant on the upper Saale. Now a listed monument, the power plant illustrates how electricity has been generated from hydropower for more than 100 years. The Hydropower Museum focuses on a different aspect: its collection includes turbines and water wheels. Its permanent exhibitions are called “The Saale Cascade” and “Crafts & Hydropower.” Visitors can try things out at a water-wheel model; they can also observe fish, bees, mice and sheep. The power plant and the museum each offer a different perspective on hydropower: one on the history of a power plant, the other on exhibitions, collections and a model installation.

Architecture is another distinctive feature of the town. The rectory at Kirchstraße 11 has a Renaissance portal and a timber-frame construction with masonry infill. These two features make it a distinct architectural point of interest alongside the technical history of the Fernmühle and the Hydropower Museum.

Routes and activities on and along the Saale

The Saale-Orla Trail and the Saale Cycle Route both pass through Ziegenrück. These are two different routes to help you find your way around the area. Eiscafe Wasserziege offers an activity on the water: canoes are launched there on the Saale in Ziegenrück after a thorough briefing. From there, guests can explore the reservoir for one or more days. Check the current availability of this offer before planning, as operator details may change.

Saale-Orla as a regional setting

In the wider Saale-Orla travel destination, the Saale and its roughly 80-kilometer-long Saale Cascade, with five dams, form Europe’s largest contiguous reservoir area, known as the Thuringian Sea. The Bleiloch Reservoir is Germany’s largest reservoir. This regional setting adds context to Ziegenrück’s own location between the Bleiloch and Hohenwarte reservoirs and puts the river and reservoir landscape into perspective, without equating the town’s distinctive features with those of the entire region.

Discover more destinations

Schleiz, Oppurg, Burgk, Saalburg-Ebersdorf, Neundorf, Pößneck, Wurzbach, Dreba

Go to the main travel overview: Saale-Orla.